MasterChef winners Karena Bird (left) and Kasey Bird will MC the Rotorua Seafood Festival at Auckland Anniversary weekend. PHOTO/FILE
MasterChef winners Karena Bird (left) and Kasey Bird will MC the Rotorua Seafood Festival at Auckland Anniversary weekend. PHOTO/FILE
The Rotorua Summer Seafood Festival has scored a coup with MasterChef winners Kasey and Karena Bird announced as hosts for the event at the end of the month.
The sisters, who are descended from Te Arawa and hail from Maketu, were MasterChef winners in 2014 and have since made acareer out of their talents with hosting events, writing two cookbooks and appearing and starring in television shows.
The Rotorua Summer Seafood Festival will be held at the Rotorua Lakefront on January 29, the Sunday ofAuckland Anniversary weekend, and will feature Kiwi music legend Dave Dobbyn and his band. Te Arawa Fisheries is the event's promoters.
Event manager Tia Smith said she was thrilled the festival was able to secure Kasey and Karena as they were a perfect fit with their love of seafood and Te Arawa connection.
She said the sisters would do cooking demonstrations, book signings and would hold a question and answer session with members of the public.
More local acts have also been announced to join the concert, which would be held from midday to 6pm.
The show will open with Rotorua singer and guitarist Rob Howard, Glo Spot top 10 finalist Bailea Twomey from Whakatane and X Factor 2015 trio Fare Thee Well. They will join local musicians Kelly Makiha and Krissie Knapp, who had previously been announced on the lineup.
Miss Smith said about 1000 tickets were already sold and it was expected to reach capacity at 1500.
"We know that Rotorua is already booked out that weekend with visitors sowe're expecting a huge number of gate sales on the day from people looking for something to do."
She said they could extend the area to cater for more people if required but she recommended people buy their tickets early to avoid disappointment.
Tickets can be bought through www.eventfinda.co.nz, booking fees may apply.
For further information visit www.facebook.com/summerseafoodfestival.
